India, April 25 -- New rules, protests put the spotlight on gig workers, and their lives

Life of a gig worker remains under a socio-economic veil. Mysteries, intrigues, paradoxes, and contradictions surround her life. This has prompted several researchers to conduct controlled ethnographic studies by following them 24x7 for several days and weeks. Experts realise that watching the gig workers from a distance, or engaging with them via short and long interviews, does not provide a full picture. This is visible from a survey, which interviewed 1,355 employees across Karnataka, and whose excerpts were captured by a media website. More than clarity, the picture that emerges is foggy.

Most feel that the gig workers are paid a pittance, and t...